South Shields Labour Party – bankrolled by the tax payer?

In the latest set of revelations on MPs expenses brought to us by the Daily Telegraph we learn that South Shields MP and Foreign Secretary David Miliband has rented office space from South Shields Labour Party at their HQ at Ede House in Westoe Road. In 2004-05 he paid £4,800 to the local party and also paid £1000 for an office upgrade, he claimed the expenses back from the tax payer on both occasions.

The disclosures are likely to prompt fears that public money has been used to prop up the Labour Party.

The cash can be funnelled into general accounts, which could be used to fund canvassing and campaigning.

In response, Mr Miliband said he followed the guidelines “at every stage”.

It has become difficult enough for local political parties to raise funding during these tough economic times, either from private donations, businesses or indeed trades unions, so a sum of almost £6000 is not to be sniffed at, and it would go a long way towards financing party activities or local election campaigning. By claiming this sum back from the Commons Fees Office, Miliband might be seen as effectively giving a tax payer funded donation to South Shields Labour Party, a practise that cannot be condoned, I do not pay my taxes to see them handed over to political bodies that seem to be making a habit of feathering their own nests at my expense.

It’s high time that South Shields Labour Party and it’s local supporters told the South Shields MP to put his hand in his own (very deep) pocket and take it out of ours! Perhaps he should be hauled into Ede House and told in no uncertain terms to pay the money back or face a reselection meeting, a course of action which might match that being faced by some Tory MPs these days.

I’m beginning to wonder just who are living the aristocratic lifestyle these days.

Care to comment on the Gulfstream and Learjet aspects of the story Dee? This is after his ‘brilliant’ boss axed the Royal flight earlier this year (fit of pique?) Is that an appropriate use of taxpayers money?